Display-rack.



PATENTED DBG. 1a, 1906.

R'. M. & H. M. `:BOWSERI DISPLAY RACK -APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 7, 1905.

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ROSS MECKLING BOVSER AND HARRY MILFORD BOWSER, OF R-ENFREW, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed August 7,1905. ,Serial No. 273,168.

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Be it known that we, Ross MnonLiNG BowsER and HARRY MILFORD Bowsnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Renfrew, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

Our invention relates to display-racks, and is more particularly a device for holding poultry-netting and other wire fabrics and heavy fibrous fabrics, such as linoleuin, carpet, &c.

The object of the invention is to provide means for conveniently storing rolls of fabric in a compact space at points where they can be conveniently reached.

A still finther object is to provide means for preventing the rolls from unwinding and for enabling the user to easily niark off upon the unrolled strip the point at which the same is to be severed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a frame suitably supported and having means whereby opposite sides thereof can be detachably engaged by rolls adapted to extend through rolls of fabric. Each of these rolls of the frame has means secured adjacent to it for preventing the fabric from unwinding, and a ruler or blade is also adapted to be supported upon each roll of material to enable the same to be marked off at proper intervals.

T he invention also consists of certain other novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings we have shown the preferred form of oui invention.

ln said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing roll of fabric in position thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the sides of the rack.

Referring to th/e figures by numerals of reference, 1 and 2 are side bars, connected at the top and bottom by cross-strips 3. The side bar 2 has apertures et therein at intervals, and a wear plate 5 is mounted longitudinally upon the inner face of the strip 2 and also has apertures 6, which register with the apertures e. These apertures are adapted to receive the necks 7 of rolls S, and the other necks of these rolls project into groovesl 9, which are formed within the inner face of the side strip 1 and are spaced apart the saine distances as are the apertures L1. Secured to the forward edges of the side strips 1 and 2 are spring-strips 10, terminating in hooks 11. rlhese hooks are so disposed in relation to the' rolls 8 that when a roll of fabric 12 is placed on any of the rolls 8 the hooked strips 10 will lie adjacent the ends of the roll 12. The hooks 11 of the strips constitute bearings for small retaiiiing-rolls 13, which bear on the rolls 12, and from each roll 13 extend hooks 14, which project into a channeled blade 15, having an inwardly extending flange 16, which is adapted to press on the roll 12. A longitudinally-Slottod plate 17 is connected to the lower portion of each side strip 1 and 2 by means of a pin 1S, which projects through the slot, and one end of each plate 17 has an angularv slot 1-9 therein, which is adapted to receive the-neck of the lower roll 8. A crossbar 2O connects the side strips, adjacent the center thereof, and has a supporting leg or brace 21 hinged to it and adapted to be secured in proper relation to the bottom of the frame by means of a rod 22.

1n using this rack a roll 8 is adapted to be placed in each aperture 4 and groove 9, and each roll may constitute a support for a roll of fabric, such as wire-nettiiig, carpet, linoleuin, &c. Vhen the fabric-roll 12 is in posi tion, it will be prevented from unwinding, because the strips 10 press the retaining-rolls 13 thereon. When it is desired to unwind a portion of the roll 12, the same is grasped at its free end and pulled with suflicient pressure to overcome the resistance offered by rolls 13, and after the proper length has been unwouiid a knife or pencil can be drawn along the flange 16 of blade 15, so as to properly mark the places where the fabric is to be cut.

Should the rolls S be too large to insert within a roll of fabric, a small rod can be placed within the roll of fabric and then the rod can be placed in engagement with the slotted ends of plate 17, which are adapted to be swung outward, as shown in dotted lines. The ioll of fabric can then be unwound from the rod therein and upon one of the rolls S. The roll of fabric, mounted between the plate IOO 17, should of course be provided with a re- I taining-roll 13 and its supporting springstrips 10 for retarding the unwinding of the roller. The flange 16 of blade 15 inay, if desired, be in the forin of a knife, whereby thin fabrics can be severed by pulling it thereagainst.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claiin as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*4 1. The combination with the side strips grooved and apertured respectively, of rolls having one end in an aperture and the other l end in a groove, spring-strips secured at their i upper ends to the forward edges of the side strips and at their free ends having hooks i forming bearings, retaining-'rolls held in said l hooks, hooks projecting` from said rolls and a l channeled blade into which the said hooks engage, said rolls and blade bearing against l the fabric on the rolls. l

2. The combination with the side strips grooved and apertured respectively, of rolls having one end in an aperture and the other end in a groove, spring-strips secured at their upper ends to the forward edges of the side strips and depending substantially parallel therewith and at their lower ends having hooks forming bearings, retaining-rolls held in said hooks, hooks4 projecting from said rolls, and a channeled bladeinto which the said hooks engage, said rolls and blade bearing against the fabric on the rolls, and the blade .having an inwardly-extending flange.

In testimony whereof we have signed our naines to'this specification in the presence of f two subscribing witnesses.

ROSS MECKLING BOWSER. HARRY MILFORD BOWSER.

litnesses: Y

J. W. KALTENBAon,'- C. C. GILBY. 

